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Windows Phone 8.1 Preview Gets Third Update Within a Month

If you’re running the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview – which anyone can get by following these simple instructions – a new third update is now available. This update started rolling out on Thursday at about 10am PST.

Third Update for Windows Phone 8.1 Preview

Updates have been coming fast and furious as the official launch of the 8.1 mobile OS for Windows Phone draws near.

Now you can download the new update which will bring your version to: 8.10.12397.895

Microsoft was a bit more forthright about what this third update includes. According to the Windows Phone Blog:

Starting today at 10am (Pacific), the third update to the Preview for Developers will start rolling out, and you should be able to get onto build 12397. This update enables some newly commercialized devices and tweaks a couple of new APIs, so you won’t see a difference on your device, but we encourage everyone who’s on the Preview for Developers to stay current on the latest build.

I haven’t personally noticed anything different since this new update, but developers will, which in turn means we as Windows Phone users should starting noticing cool new app features.

If you’re on the 8.1 preview already, you know the drill…you should see that an update is waiting for you. If you have downloaded the 8.1 Preview to your Windows Phone, and don’t see it for some reason, just go to Settings > Phone Update > Check for Update.

On my trusty Nokia Lumia 520 the update took about 10 minutes beginning to end. The overall operation of my 520 seems slower, but that isn’t really a fair test as it’s the lowest end Windows Phone from Nokia in the US.

I would be interested if users of higher end devices notice any difference on performance or the way certain apps behave, leave a comment below and let us know.

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About Brian Burgess

Based in MN, Brian Burgess is Editor in Chief at groovyPost. He also has contributed to other notable tech sites including InformationWeek and How-To Geek. Follow him on Twitter @mysticgeek.

With all the latest OS update of 8.1, my Lumia 1520 seems cooler than its previous version of is. Almost all of the apps can be transferred to SD card. The internet explorer runs fast, the market for apps is cooler than the previous one. The action center is awesome. Music and ringtones can be added directly on the phone even without using computer. Etc…